District 44

Chapter 3

Sector 9, Sector 10. As soon as Sector 11 is called I start shaking. It's us next, I think. All other thoughts in me disappear and I'm left with one question. Will it be me? There's no way of telling. I hope it's not Twila. She'd never kill anyone, even if they tried to kill her. There's a hand on my shoulder and I instantly know its Twila trying to calm me down. It won't work.

The doors open and out walk the boys from 11 with looks of relief on their faces. They return to their seats and I hear a scream and crying. Then, June calls us.

"Sector 12, come on up!"

We stand and the blood rushes to my head blocking my ears so I don't hear anything but the rapid beat of my heart. We walk our way through the ropes, glances from other Sectors and then we're in there. In the room where lives are ruined. We stand in the roped area smallest at the front tallest at the back. I can't see any cameras but they'll be hidden. At the front of the room June is stood next to a large glass bowl which has my name in it, somewhere. Behind her stand Herbert and Steenie who look uncomfortable and bored. This room holds bad memories for them. They weren't reaped in this room exactly but the rooms look similar in each Hall. Herbert was from Sector 53 and Steenie from 96. In all of the 93 Hunger Games there hasn't been a winner from the poorest areas of District 44. Herbert and Steenie are lucky they're from 53 and 96. There are only a few that are special. Sector 12 usually dies at the Cornucopia. In District 44 we're used to death.

"Are we ready? Ok, let's see who the lucky young lady is." She dives her hand in the bowl without hesitation. She swirls her hand round for what feels like an eternity. Then she picks one. Shuffling to the front she opens the piece of paper.

"Vivron Matthews"

Immediately a pathway has cleared for me before it ad even sunk in.

"Come forward my dear. Don't be shy."

I mustn't react. I must keep normality. I must. I walk forward cautiously, and up the steps to the door where Steenie and Herbert stand. I look back and see Twila, Joumana and Dora. They're going to cry. So am I if I don't get out of here soon.

"Ladies, I hope you will wish your Tribute luck. I'm sure she'll do well." Echoes June.

Herbert smiles at me and opens the door for me. I walk down a corridor. They're still filming me. I know they are. I follow the corridor till I got to a large room brightly lit by old fashioned lights that are on the walls. Chairs were dotted around the room. Gold painted chairs with pale suede cushioned padding on them. They are very work out. You know, being 93.

I felt the hairs on my neck stand up again and realise that 11 other people are staring at me. And I realise these people might kill me or I might kill them. Hurriedly I walk to the far end of the room and sit carefully down in a chair in the corner. I feel alone again, like I'm back in the cellar. I pull my knees up to my chest like I used to but I don't talk because they might think I'm weird. But if they think I'm weird, would that be a bad thing? For one thing, they wouldn't want to be my Ally if they think I'm insane. They might think I'm a threat. Chances are they'll think I'm weak. And I don't want that.

I feel numb. I want to talk to Teddy. To tell him it'll be alright. But that would be a lie. Truth is, I don't know if it'll be alright. Probably won't be but I can't let that distract me. I have to win this Game. All the people in this room have to die. They have to. I need sponsors if I'm going to win. They won't sponsor me if they think I'm weak. What makes it worse is that you're only allowed three sponsors so I need good sponsors. People who will send things that I desperately need. Like medicine. I've seen in previous games an injection that they can send you if you're injected. If you inject it near the wound it will instantly heal up. But it's very rare. I've only ever seen it twice. In replays.

No, what I can aim for though it's water. I can survive on that. I hope. Five others have entered the room now. All looking afraid, pale and shaky, shaking when they sit, breathe, look. Not me though? No, me? I'm hunched in a ball in the corner of the room. Not a great start. I unravel and sit properly, up straight, on the chair with my head held high. I must look like I can do this. Joumana told me it's all in the appearance. If you look like you know what you're doing, then people will believe that you do. People in the Capitol are gullible. They believe anything they're told. Even the stupid Mockingjay being dead.

Even though she's not. She's alive and living in Panem. I intend to tell The Isle but I didn't know how. It would end with my death, I know that, but it would show her how selfish she is. How selfish they all are. Once they got freedom for themselves they just left the world to itself. Do they even know we're here? Probably not. They wouldn't know anything considering President Snow. He never told his people he had a brother let alone about the terrible things he does to his people.

And the people of Panem thought they had it tough. They were wrong.

The room slowly starts to fill up with different people accompanied by the same expression. It must be hours before the rooms almost full. Only a few chose to sit near me. I suppose the 'head held high' thing really works. But I don't look the most welcoming. I choose to wear an emotion of ownership. Like I know I'm going to win. I don't care if they think I'm selfish or snobby. I just want to win. Even if I have to become a 'career'. In the Districts, there are always people who are above the rest, who are 'career' like. Those Sectors in mine are 2, 17, 64, 43, 79 and 102. Yeah, there are a lot of them. But compared to the other Districts there's not that many.

I look around the room. Soon we'll be called to do the Tributes Walk. I don't think I'll be able to look at them, I don't want pity. I just want them to have faith in me. To show me hope. That I can do this. They won't through. They'll just stare at me with sorry expressions on their face. I can just imagine them; Twila with her big brown eyes, Joumana with her tiny nose and flawless skin, Dora who smiles at you even though deep down she knows it won't be ok, and Kip. Kip. The boy who picked the daisies with me, that day 8 years ago. We were in the fields to the back of Legacy Hall when we first met. I was alone, as usual, wondering through the long grass in search of flowers to put in the vase in my dorm. It was sunny that day, really bright, so I couldn't really see very well. I squinted to see if I could see any flowers. Then I heard them. The Jabberjays. They migrated from Panem and I had only just figured out what they did. So I sang to them. The lullaby that we learnt at school. We were taught many old folk songs but this song really stuck in my head.

The Sun Lowers In The Sky,

And Melts Away,

Behind Silky Soft Clouds,

That's Where It Can Be Found.

The Land Of Dreams,

The Land Of Sleep,

Where Moon Beams Shine Silently,

The Land Of Dreams,

The Land Of Sleep,

Where Everything's Done Perfectly.

"You liked that one?" He asked.

It startled me and I span to see him standing there in the sunlight. Being 2 years older than me, he was 9 and I was 7, he scared me. I'm tiny now; imagine how small I was then. I knew he lived in the same orphanage as Teddy and I, I knew he was on the same floor as Teddy but I didn't know him.

"Yes I do. Is that a problem?" I asked, protectively.

"No, not really. It's just that it's strange that you chose to sing that one." He replied.

The Jabberjays started to sing. All in harmony with beautiful mellow sounds.

"Although, it doesn't sound so bad when they sing it." he smiled cheekily.

"Are you saying that I can't sing?" I didn't know why but I was warming to him. The thought of being friends didn't scare me anymore.

"No, just that they sing it better." He said. "Here, I found these. I knew you were looking for them so I picked them for you."

He handed me the biggest bunch of daisies. I took them hesitantly. How was I to know what he might want in return? I eyed them suspiciously. He laughed at me.

"They're not poisonous. They're daisies." he said.

"I know what they are. I'm not stupid." I replied without hesitation.

"I know. I've seen you in Class. Not bad. For a girl." He grinned with those bright white teeth that seemed to be out of place in District 44.

In fact, he's always looked out of place. Here, the majority of the people have got thin skin which you can see the veins through with messy brown hair. Teddy and I stick out too. Teddy's ginger and I have burgundy hair. My eyes are dark brown with flecks of gold in them. Kip's are blue. A sea coloured blue that sparkle whenever he was told he'd done a good job at work. His muscly frame and light skin are always seen on the loading bay of The Centre. He has to be muscly. He works on the Loading Bay at The Centre. He plays the guitar beautifully but the guitar is a common instrumental talent and he wasn't given a job. He should have been. He deserves it as much as anyone. He told me it was because he was an orphan. He tells me everything. I know all his secrets. I'm going to miss him.

We talked a few weeks ago. I was given permission to visit him in the shack he shares with his workmate, Jimmy O'Reilly. Jimmy has always freaked me out. He likes to talk to himself too but he does it constantly and he argues with himself. Kip told me he chose to live with Jimmy because he reminded him of me. I didn't know whether that was a compliment.

Anyway, I walked down the street, into a back alley and through a dry patchy grass area. The usual route to Kips shack. I step up onto the broken blackened wood porch and knocked on the door. But there was no answer. I thought he was supposed to be in today. I looked down the dusty path and see the three other shacks, silent in the midday sun. The identical shacks all looked haunting in the silence and their windows were dark making it seem as though I was alone. I went around the back, climbing through the overgrown shrubbery, around scrap metal that the boys have never bothered to clear, and peered through the greasy, dusty windows. I could see figures moving around the shadowy living room. One of the figures spotted me and I quickly retreated back to the front of the shack and knocked on the door brutally with my fists.

"Kip! I know you're in there! Open up! Now!" As I shouted I become more agitated. Why was he ignoring me? There were three shadows in that room, I knew there were. Kip was in there, I would know his tall muscly figure from anywhere, and I think Jimmy was in there, on the sofa. But who was that other man? I'd been thumping the door so long that my hand was going pink.

Suddenly the door flung open and I punched a man, hard in the chest. I didn't hear him coming so it was a bit of a shock when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the dark house and out into the chilled, bleak space the boys call a living room. Kip pulled me from the snake like grip of the strange man.

"You don't touch her, you understand?" stated Kip. His hand linked with mine.

"We need to be quiet, so please shut it." the man said. "You, did anyone follow you?"

He stared at me with piercing green eyes which darted this way and that. He was dressed in a dark green suit with pale green pin stripes. His face was narrow and his chin pointed out. He had a grey goatee with grey hair to match. I guessed he didn't want to dye it like everyone else in the Capitol.

"Um…I don't think so… I didn't check." I stammered, barely audible.

The man's face went pale and he ran to the small 'bedroom' at the front of the shack. He squinted his eyes to see out of the window.

"Who is that man?" I asked Kip.

"Ronald Charm. He's the Head GameMaker for this year's Games." replied Jimmy.

Jimmy. I hadn't even noticed him sitting there, mumbling to himself. He was rocking slightly. Poor boy.

"He wants a test subject for this year's Games." Continued Kip.

"But its girls this year that are for Sector 12. Why is he here?" I asked.

"Jimmy owes him a favour. He wants Jimmy to find a girl to be a sure Tribute this year." replied Kip under his breath. "You shouldn't have come here."

I looked up at him and saw his eyes were scared. More scared then I'd ever seen them. I knew what he was thinking though. He knew that Ronald would ask me, a dispensable orphan, to automatically ensure that I would go to my death. And so he did.

"What's your name?" he asked as he scurried back into the room.

"Vivron Matthews." I replied, as quiet as a mouse.

"Ronald Charm. Well, Vivron. Do you know why I'm here?" he said with his raspy voice.

Immediately I replied "Yes, I do and I won't do it."

"You don't know everything. What the boy has told you probably won't be the whole truth. You see, I used to work in District 44's Centre as an editor for the highlights of each Games. The Capitol were impressed with what I'd been doing that 10 years ago they offered me a job as a GameMaker. Of course, I accepted and this year I am Head GameMaker." He motioned for us to sit down and still linked in hand, we nodded in agreement. "But, five years ago I got an email from a man named Beetee."

My stomach clenched up as he said his name. Beetee is a Victor of a previous Panem Hunger Games. He was too old to fight in their war so he designed the weapons they used. He designed the Mockingjay's bow and arrows that exploded and set fire to things.

"I never understood what he meant, until now. He wanted to further his independent research on the Games here. He needs a test subject. Someone to help with his research. So I emailed back stating that I would try to help him by finding him said test subject. So I came here in search of a girl to help him. So, I was wondering, seeing as you're here, would you do it?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Go to my death? Are you insane?" I said.

"If you do this then his research will be complete." He said calmly.

"And what is this research for?" Kip asked.

"If things go well, then he will inform the rest of Panem and they'll try to negotiate with Prime Minister Snow to change the way things are." He explained.

"So, there will be a chance that things could change." I was convinced that if I did this, Teddy wouldn't have to go in to those horror Games. I looked at Kip and stared deep into those blue eyes. They flickered and widened when he realised my incentive.

"No, no Vivron. You know better than this. He could find someone else to do it. I won't let you sacrifice your life like this." Said Kip, his voice more worried.

"You tell me you wouldn't do the same if you were in my position?" I persisted. "And I promise I won't do it." I knew I had him there. He has no family do he sees all his friends as precious. If he had a family I knew he would do exactly the same.

He stared at me intently, deciding what to say. So I say it for him.

"If you can guarantee me that I won't die, then I'll do it." I said.

"You mean cheat? I'm afraid I can't authorise that. The risk is too high. They'll notice if I rig it. The most I can do is send you things but I can't deliberately hijack the Victor. I would be found out." Replied Ronald.

"You could send me anything I wanted?" I asked, trying to understand the current situation.

"Yes. Anything you would need." He knew I was slowly being convinced.

"I suppose I could think about it." I said.

"I need an answer now." Persisted Ronald.

"I don't know. It's a big ask. I don't think I can." I mumbled.

"I'd do it." said Jimmy, still mumbling incoherently. "I mean, if I was in your position I would do it. I could have a chance at changing the way things are. I could stop the Games."

There's silence for a moment, then I said "I'll do it."

Ronald Charm's eyes lit up like diamonds as they scanned my face for any sign of regret. I didn't show any sign though. Kip squeezed my hand so tight that his knuckles went white.

"Thank you Vivron. I will help you as much as I can." Ronald smiled. Somehow it was warm but it freaked me out.

With that, he got up and walked out of the back door, checking to see if the coast was clear before he scuttled off into the long grass. We sat there in silence again, this time no-one looked at each other.

I pulled my hand from Kip's and walked to the doorway. I looked back and saw Kip had slumped down further in his seat. Turning back towards the door, I walked out into the stretch of dusty yellow road. I pushed my hands deep into my pockets, and strolled back through the field. I heard running footsteps behind me but I didn't look back. I knew it was Kip coming back to try and convince me to find some other way of doing this. But I won't. I was convinced I was doing the right thing, protecting Teddy.

The running got closer so I stopped and turned just as Kip got to me and we slammed into the ground. His face just inches away from mine he said "I'll do anything to protect you." He leaned in and kissed me. The initial shock faded away quickly and I started to kiss him back. He stroked the hair out of my face. I didn't know what to say, so I just stared into his eyes. Even, today I haven't replied. But I wouldn't know what to say.